Roy Turk
Roy Kenneth Turk (September 20, 1892 – November 30, 1934) was an American songwriter and lyricist, who frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert, with whom he wrote their popular 1929 song "Mean to Me", which became a jazz standard. In 1926 he collaborated with Lou Handman on his best known song, the 1927 hit Are You Lonesome Tonight?, which Elvis Presley later revived. He worked with many other composers, including for film lyrics.
Also recorded as Roy Kenneth Turk
Roy Turk
New York, Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc. · Internet Archive identifier: filmdaily4748newy · Public domain
- Name
- Roy Turk
- Birth Name
- Roy Kenneth Turk
- Born
- 20 September 1892
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, United States
- Died
- 30 November 1934
- Place of death
- Hollywood, California, United States
- Occupation
- Songwriter and lyricist
- Full name
- Roy Kenneth Turk.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Fields
- music, jazz, composed musical work and lyrics.
- Known for
- Are You Lonesome Tonight?
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Roy Kenneth Turk (September 20, 1892 – November 30, 1934) was an American songwriter and lyricist, who frequently collaborated with composer Fred E. Ahlert, with whom he wrote their popular 1929 song "Mean to Me", which became a jazz standard. In 1926 he collaborated with Lou Handman on his best known song, the 1927 hit Are You Lonesome Tonight?, which Elvis Presley later revived. He worked with many other composers, including for film lyrics.
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wikidata · Q984231 · wikipedia · Roy Turk
In this article
Biography
Biography
Turk was elected posthumously to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970.
Edison Diamond Disc record: "Are you lonesome to-night?", composed by Roy Turk and Lou Handman, performed by Vaughn De Leath (vocal) and Bill Regis (piano), recorded in New York, New York on June 13, 1927. Release number 52044, matrix number 11734-B-2-1. From the sound archive at Thomas Edison National Historical Park, National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior, West Orange, N
National Park Service · Original work of the US Federal government.
Cover to the sheet music of the 1928 song I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) which had lyrics by Roy Turk and music by Fred E. Ahlert. Illustration by Sydney Leff and was published by Irving Berlin, Inc.
Sydney Leff (illustrator) · https: yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/items/61f91171-5252-4a0f-93cc-7ab67fbde990
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Roy Turk • Birth Name — Roy Kenneth Turk • Born — 20 September 1892 • Birthplace — New York City, New York, United States • Died — 30 November 1934 • Place of death — Hollywood, California, United States • Years Active — 1920s–1930s • Style — Traditional pop, cast recordings, show tunes, vaudeville, vocal music • Occupation — Songwriter and lyricist
Overview
Overview
Among his compositions (with music by Fred Ahlert unless otherwise noted): • 1923 – "My Sweetie Went Away" (music by Lou Handman) • 1927 – "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" (music by Lou Handman), popularized in 1960 by Elvis Presley • 1928 – "I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)" • 1928 – "Mean to Me" • 1931 – "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" • 1931 – "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" • 1931 – "Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day)" for Bing Crosby • 1932 – "Love, You Funny Thing!" He also worked with composers such as Harry Akst, George W. Meyer, Charles Tobias, Arthur Johnston, Maceo Pinkard, and J. Russell Robinson.
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Hollywood.
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The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Roy Turk, revision 1356702443 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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